Curriculum Vitae
Zach Fuller, Ph.D. candidate
Department of Biology
The Pennsylvania State University
510 Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802
Email: zlf105@psu.edu
Phone: 303-941-4399
Education:
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Ph.D. candidate
2012-present
Creighton University, Omaha, NE
Biology B.S.
2008-2012
Research Interests:
The evolutionary mechanisms and genomic processes that change gene and allele
frequencies in natural populations. The forces that drive the evolution of chromosomes.
How selfish genetic elements arise in nature and how they are maintained in populations.
The effects of weak natural selection on genomic variation.
Research Experience:
2012-present The Pennsylvania State University
Advisor: Dr. Stephen W. Schaeffer. Analyzing next generation sequence data from
natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura. Examining the evolutionary
forces maintaining widespread chromosomal inversions
2012-2013
The Pennsylvania State University
Advisor: Dr. Webb Miller. Designing web based tools to analyze genomic
diversity and detecting signatures of selection. Investigating colony collapse
disorder in populations of Kenyan honeybees through genomic data.
2009-2012
Creighton University
Advisor: Dr. Soochin Cho: Studying the evolutionary history of the ribonuclease
gene family and their expansion in the Giant Panda. Elucidating the genetic basis
behind a widespread sex reversal trait in the South American field mouse
Akodon.
2008
University of Colorado, School of Medicine
Advisor: Dr. Betsy Risendahl. Research into the traits that affect the quality of life
and long-term survivorship in colon cancer patients.
Teaching Experience:
The Pennsylvania State University (2013): Graduate Teaching Assistant
Course: Biology 230W
Publications:
Zachary Fuller, Gwilym Haynes, Stephen Richards, Stephen Schaeffer. Selection
on Codon Usage in Chromosomal Rearrangements of Drosophila pseudoobscura.
Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2013 (In Review)
Zachary Fuller, Elina Lastro Nino, Harland Patch, Oscar Reina, Stephen Schuster,
Webb Miller, Christina Grozinger. Genome-wide analysis of signatures of
selection in populations of African honey-bees (Apis mellifera). 2013. (In
Preperation)
Presentations:
Zach Fuller. Identifying the Evolutionary Forces Behind the Maintenance and
Origin of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Populations of Drosophila
pseudoobscura. 2013 SMBE Conference. July 9th 2013
Zach Fuller, Gwilym Hanes, Stephen Schaeffer. Tests of Evolutionary
Mechanisms for the Maintenance and Origin of Chromosomal Rearrangements in
Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics Society of America’s 54th Annual
Drosophila Conference. April 7th 2013 (Poster)
Zach Fuller, Gwilym Hanes, Stephen Schaeffer. Next generation sequence
analysis of chromosomal inversions in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Penn State
Genomics Institute Seminar Series. February 2013.
Zach Fuller, Harland Patch, Oscar Reina. Detecting signatures of selection in
natural populations of Apis mellifera. Penn State Genomics Institute Seminar
Series. November 2012.
Zach Fuller, Daniel Bellatti, Jianzhi Zhang, Soochin Cho. Evolutionary origin and
genetic basis of the XY sex reversal in the South American field mouse, Akodon.
2010 SMBE Conference (Poster).
Academic Activities:
The University of Washington (July, 2013): Summer Institute in Statistical
Genetics
Volunteer Experience:
Science U: Think Outside the Beaker [Organizer] The Pennsylvania State
University (2013)
Science U: Exploration U [Volunteer] The Pennsylvania State University (2012Present)
Awards & Fellowships:
2013 CBIOS Training Grant Fellowship
2012 Braddock Award, Penn State
2012
2010
2010
2010
2008
Research Fellowship, Penn State
SMBE Diversity Mentoring Program
Creighton Biology Association Award
Dean’s Summer Research Fellowship, Creighton
Magis Award, Creighton
Professional Memberships:
Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution
Genetics Society of America
Penn State Graduate Biology Student’s Association
Miscellaneous:
Computer skills: Python, R, LaTeX, Perl, Java, C/C++, Word, Excel, MEGA,
DnaSP, ImageJ, Illustrator, Photoshop